Fiery Sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson Qualifies for Olympics Days After Biological Mother Dies
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Sha’Carri Richardson is “that girl,” and she’s proving it.

On Saturday, the 21-year-old out of LSU dominated the 100-meter race to secure a spot in this year’s Tokyo Olympics.

With a head full of firey orange hair, long nails and long eyelashes, a bold Richardson blew past the competition to finish the final race in 10.86 seconds, becoming one of the fastest professional women runners in the world.

But after her event, she revealed a family death. She told an NBC reporter during an on-track interview that she lost her biological mother last week.

“My family has kept me grounded,” Richardson said on air through swallows of breath. “This year has been crazy for me. Going from just last week losing my biological mother, and I’m still here.”

Richardson ran through the stands after the race to meet her grandmother, who wiped away tears, for a heartwarming embrace.

“Without my grandmother, there would be no Sha’Carri Richardson,” she said firmly, “so my family is my everything ’til the day I’m done.”

Sha’Carri Richardson embraces her grandmother following her Olympic trial race on Saturday, June 19, 2021. Photo: Twitter

Richardson did not provide further details about the death of the mother, offering that she loved her and the topic is both sensitive and confusing for her.

The Dallas, Texas, native gained scores of new fans over the weekend, as many admire her swagger, her strength, her stride, her story — and of course her speed. She’s a star to watch in Tokyo this year.

“I just want the world to know that I’m that girl. That every time I step on the track, I’m going to try to do what it is that me, my coach, my support team believe I can do.”

Sha’Carri RIChardson after Olympic trials